Power loader



March 9, 1965 J. E. M CANSE 3,172,553

POWER LOADER Filed April 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORZ J. E. McCANSE ATTORNEY March 9, 1965 J. E. M cANsE POWER LOADER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1962 l7 FIG. 3

INVENTOR, J E McCANSE w/4; 7

ATTORNEY v-ur,

United States Patent 3,172,553 POWER LOADER James E. McCanse, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 186,413 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-140) This invention relates to a power loader of the type having a main mobile frame with a pair of forwardly extending booms and a bucket attached to the forward ends of the booms. More particularly this invention relates to the means effecting rotation of the bucket about the forward ends of the booms.

In the conventional type of power loader, there is provided a main mobile frame with a pair of forwardly extending booms or push arms connected to the frame and projecting forwardly. Pivotally mounted on the forward ends of the push arms is a bucket which may be rolled from a position of dumping in which the bucket opens downwardly, a bucket of transport in which the position opens upwardly, and, a position in which the bucket opens forwardly and the bottom of the bucket operates as a cutting blade. There is normally provided hydraulic means and linkages connected between the frame, the booms, and the bucket which operates to forcibly position the bucket in any of the aforementioned positions.

Generally a problem existing in this type of loader is that the linkage and hydraulic means for positioning the bucket on the ends of the booms and the linkages are normally offset laterally from the booms or push arms to avoid interference therewith. Also, it is desirable to have in the hydraulic means and the linkage for rolling the bucket the characteristic of providing maximum power for moving the bucket from digging to its transport position and to have maximum velocity in rolling the bucket from the transport to the dumping position. The reason for such is obvious since it is desirable in one instance to have maximum power capacity when the bucket is digging or breaking material loose and in a second instance to have the maximum speed in discharging the material from the bucket.

With the above in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a new and novel system of linkages and hydraulic means for rolling the bucket about its pivots on the forward ends of the booms. The linkage and hydraulic means utilized in the present invention will create a system in which the maximum velocity is created for dumping the bucket and the greatest power is created for positioning the bucket in its digging position and for moving the bucket from the digging position to the roll-back or transport position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following description and as shown in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a power loader incorporating the principles of the present invention and a forward portion of a track-laying tractor.

FIG. 2 is a side view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the power loader in a different position.

FIG. 3 is a plan view looking into the linkage, booms, and the bucket of the loader when in the position shown in FIG. 2 and substantially as viewed from line 33 on FIG. 2.

The power loader is supported on a primary mobile frame in the form of a tractor having a pair of side tracks, one of which is shown at 12. The tractor carries a pair of upright side frames, one being shown at 13, on the right side of the tractor 10 and the other being disposed on the opposite side of the tractor. The frames "ice or supports for the loaders are capable, as is conventional, of supporting the entire loader. Extending forwardly from the main upright supports are a pair of booms or push arms 14, with forward ends disposed forwardly of the tractor 10. As is conventional, the booms 14, 15 are parallel and identical to one another and are adapted to swing vertically on the main side frames on pivot pins, one being shown at 16 connecting the right boom 15 to the right side frame 13. The material carrying bucket 17 is connected to the forward ends of the booms 14, 15 by means of transverse pivot pins 18, 19 respectively. Rearwardly projecting upright bracket structures 20, 21 are fixed to the rear of the bucket 17 and affords structural reenforcement for the bucket as well as a means of attachment to the booms 14, 15.

Means are also provided on the booms 14, 15 for pivot ing the bucket 17 about the pivot pins 18, 19 and about the forward ends of the boom, such including a pair of hydraulic cylinders 25, 26 disposed above the booms 14, 15 and pivotally mounted to the respective booms on pivot pins, one of which is shown at 27 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The location and purpose of the opposite pin, while not shown, is clearly obvious. Suitable supporting bracket structure, such as is shown at 28 extends upwardly from the respective booms 14, 15 to receive the respective pivot pins.

A pair of L-shaped levers 30, 31 having corner portions 32, 33 forwardly extending leg portions 34, 35 and depending leg portions 36, 37 respectively are pivotally connected at 40, 41 to the rod ends of the respective cylinders 25, 26.

The forward ends of the leg portions 34, 35 are pivotally connected to the upper portions of the brackets 20, 21 by transverse pivot pins 42, 43. A pair of links 44, 45 are pivotally connected at their lower ends, by pivot pins 46, 47, to the respective boom arms 14, 15. The upper ends of the links 44, 45 are pivotally mounted at 48, 49 to the lower ends of the respective depending leg portions 36, 37.

The means for raising or lowering the booms 14, 15 are of conventional type and consist of a pair of hydraulic cylinders, one of which is shown at 50 extending between the stand or main support 13 and the lower portion of the boom 15. Suitable pads, as at 51, depend from the underside of the booms 14, 15 and serve as connections to the rod ends of the cylinders.

Viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be noted that when in the completely extended and retracted positions of the cylinders 25, 26 the linkage connecting the hydraulic cylinder 26 to the bucket has a relatively low profile. It should also be noted that in both positions the cylinders 26, 27 may be positioned above the booms 14, 15 without interference therewith. Also, due to the particular arrangement of the links 30, 44 and 31, 45 and their respective hydrdaulic cylinders 25, 26, the velocity of discharge to extreme positions would be at a high rate. Further, while not shown, it is apparent that upon the bucket being in a digging position the legs 36, 37 and links 44, 45 will be substantially alined and the greatest moment arm can then be applied for positioning or moving the bucket.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should be understood that other forms and variations will occur to those skilled in the art. Consequently, while the preferred form of the invention was shown in concise and detailed manner for the purpose of clearly and concisely illustrating the principles of the invention, it should be recognized that it was not the intention to so limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad concept set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power loader including a main frame, a pair of elongated booms and a bucket pivotally mounted relative to the booms, the improvement comprising: a pair of L-shaped levers having corner portions with angularly related legs extending forwardly and downwardly there from; means pivotally connecting the forward ends of the forwardly extending legs to the bucket; a pair of hydraulically operated'extensible and retractable links diposed above the respective booms and connected at one end to the booms and at the opposite ends to the respective corner portions; and a pair of links pivoted at one end to the respective booms and at the opposite ends to the ends of the downwardly extending legs.

2. In a power loader including a main frame, a pair of elongated booms, and a bucket pivotally mounted relative to the booms, the improvement comprising: a pair of hydraulically operated extensible and retractable links having front and rear ends disposed above the respective booms and with rear anchored to the boom ends; a pair of fore and aft extending three point links with the intermediate points of the links being vertically offset above points at the forward and rear ends; means pivotally connecting the forward ends of the links to the bucket; means connecting intermediate point of the links to the forward ends of the extensible and retractable links; and a pair of links pivoted at one end to the respective booms and at the opposite ends to the rear ends of the three point links.

3. In a power loader including a main frame, a pair of elongated booms, a bucket pivotally mounted relative to the booms and hydraulic means supported on the boom, the improvement comprising: a pair of fore and aft extending three point links having intermediate points offset above the other points; means pivotally connecting the forward of said other points to the bucket; means connecting the intermediate points to the hydraulic means; and a pair of links pivoted at one end to the respective booms and at the opposite ends to the rear of said other points.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,668,631 2/54 Reese 214 2,753,059 7/56 Pilch 214140 2,886,192 5/59 Schwartz 214140 X FOREIGN PATENTS 167,063 2/56 Australia.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN A POWER LOADER INCLUDING A MAIN FRAME, A PAIR OF ELONGATED BOOMS AND A BUCKET PIVOTALLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO THE BOOMS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING A PAIR OF L-SHAPED LEVERS HAVING CORNER POSITIONS WITH ANGULARLY RELATED LEGS EXTENDING FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM; MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE FORWARD ENDS OF THE FORWARDLY EXTENDING LEGS TO THE BUCKET; A PAIR OF HYDRAU- 